Car truck



S. P. BUSH March 26, 1929.

CA'R TRUCK Filed Sept. 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet ull..

g wuento'v atto z wais March 26, 1929. s, P :BUSH 1,706,770

CAR TRUCK Filed Sept. 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL I". BUSH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUCKEYE STEEL CASTINGS COMPANY, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAB TRUCK.

Application led September 1926. Serial No. 133,411.

No. 123,719. and has special reference to' the spring plank. The spring plank is gcnerally a channel member having its flanges extending upwardly or downwardly as may -be most convenlent or desirable 1n a glven truck, the flanges sometimes being removed at the ends so that the. web of the channel is left as a flat plate upon wllich the springs rest. These channels frequently break. If one side fr-alne assumes a position higher than the other side` frame, or if the side frames tend to swing about the journal bearings. as in passing around a curve at speed, certain vertical stresses are set up in the spring plank which it is not well adapted to resist and it, consequently, frequently breaks, usually near the ends. If one side frame rotates in a vertical plane relative to the other side frame, torsional stresses are set up which also contribute to the fracture of the ordinaryv form of spring plank. If

" one side frame moves ahead or falls behind the other side frame with reference to the transverse axis of the truck, lateral stresses are set up in the spring plank which contribute to the failure of the plank in service and require that t-he spring plank be' heavy enough to resist them or flexible enough to vield to them without fracture. The objects of the present invention, therefore, are yto provide for an improved distribution of load upon the spring plank andthe side frame whereby damaging stresses are reduced; to provide a more desirable grouping of springs; to provide a spring plank having alimited flexibility and better adapted to meet the stresses developed in service, and to promote conveniencel and reduce labor in assembling and disassembling the parts of the truck. These objects are attained inthe structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the invention resides in certain novel features hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a truck embodying the invention; v

F'gure 2 is a view of the same partly in 'top plan and partly in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken longi- 55 tudinally of the spring plank;

Figure t is a view similar to Figure 3 showing an alternative construction.

The side frame Vis cast in one integral structure having an upper-and compression ,member 1, a lower tension member 2, and

columns 3, these several members defining a central opening through which the ends of the bolster and the. spring plank are received. The opposed sides of the columns have thelr lower portions projected within said opening 1n downwardly converglng relation. as at 4, and the lower portion of the tension member is concave, as indicated at 5. A spring seat 6 is formed on the tension member at the base of each column, said scat defining a shoulder 7 having approximately the same level as the top of the spring plank. gl

T he spring plank consists of endvr portions 8. which are skeletonzed castings, and a central portion 9 connecting theend castings and which may be a rolled steel bar of rectangula r cross section or a light weight channel or Il section. `The end castings are convex on their under sides to conform to'the contour of the upper surface of the side frame at the center of the bolster opening and the upper surfaces of the end castings are adapted for spring seats at the same level as the `spring seats 6. The springs 140 are disposed in cruciform relation on the end of the spring plank and the seats 6, and it will be noted that the springs on the seats 6 overlap the side edges of the spring plank so that they are carried partll by the spring plank and partly by the side rame. The intermediate connecting member 9 of the spring lank imparts flexibility thereto lso that it 1s bett-er able to resist vertical and torsional stresses. l

The brake hanger brackets.11 rise from the sides of the spring plank and a transverse web 12 extends between the brackets over the s ring plank to reenforce the struc-v ture. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the brake hanger brackets are shown united integrally with the spring plank while in Figure 4, they are shown secured to the spring plank by rivets 13, the connecting member 9 being also integral with the end castings in Figures v1, 2 and 3 while in Figure 4 said parts are secured together by rivets 14. It will be understood that the brackets may be integral with the end castings to which the connecting member is rivted or vice versa.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1. In a. car truck, a spring plank supported byj the lower member of the side frame between the columns, and springs carried, some wholly on the spring plank and some partially on the spring plank and partially on'the side frame adjacent thereto at the bases of the columns., the sprin'gsupporting surfaces having the same general level.

2. In a car truck, the combination of a side frame having separa-ted spring seats on its lower portion at the bases of its columns, a spring plank, and means carried by the spring plank and disposed between the spring seats on the side frame, said means affording spring bearings on the same horizontal plane as that of the spring seats 011v the side frame' whereby the springs may. .bridge the seats on the side frameand the bearings on the spring plank.`

3. In a car truck, the` combination of a side frame having a bolster opening and having separated spring seats on its lower portion at the bases of its columns,` a yspring plank, means carried by the spring plank between the`spring seats on the frame and affording spring bearings in the same horizontal plane as that of the seats on the side frame, and springs seated partially on the spring seats on the side frame and partially on the spring bearing means carried by the spring plank. l

4. In a car truck, the combination of a side frame having a bolster opening and having separated spring seats on its lower portion at the ba'ses ofv its columns, a'spring plank, means carried by`saidl spring plank between the spring seats on the side frame, springs seated partially on the spring bearing means carried by the spring plank, and other` r springs bearing solely upon the spring bearing means on the spring plank, the lower ends of all the springs being substantially in the same horizontal plane.

5. Ina car truck, the combination of a side frame having columns and `spring seats at the bases of the columns, and a. sp plank having its end disposed between the .spring seats, the `end of the plank conform. -ing on its under side to the side frame between the spring seats and having its upper surface in the same horizontal plane with the spring seats wherebysprings may be supported lpartly on the spring plank and lpartly on t e spring seats.

6. In a car truck, the combination of a side-frame having a concave lower portion,

7. In a car truck, the combination of a` side frame having columns, and" aspring plank supported by and conforming to the' lower member of the side frame between the columns whereby it will be held against movement along the side frame and having its upper surface ina substantially horizontal plane whereby springs may lbe carried partly on the spring plank and partly on the .side frame adjacentyand outside the "spring plank 8. In acar truck, the combination of 'a' side frame including upper and lower meinbers, lcolumns connecting said members, and spring seats on the lower member in proximity to the columns, the confronting sides of the columns beingvertical in their upper portions to define a bolster opening and converging in their lower portions, and a spring-carrying member supported by the lower member of the side frame between the columns and having its spring-carrying surface on a level with the spring seats Yon the side frame.

9. In al car truck, the combination of a side frame, -and a spring plank comprising an end casting resting inthe 'side frame and of uniform height within the frame and having its top and bottom converging toward its central horizontal plane at the inner side of the side frame, and a relatively flexible portion extending from the inner e'nd of the casting.

10. In a car truck. a spring plank comprising a skeletonized casting supported by the lower member of the side frame between the columns, and adapted to support the springs partially on its upper surfacerand partially on that part of the frame adjacent to and outside the spring plank.

11. In a car truck, a spring plank coniprising a skeletonized casting supported by the lower member of the side frame between the columns land a relatively flexible member extending from the inner end of the `casting, the casting being adapted to carry SAMUEL P. BUSH. 

